As I was waiting to meet friends for lunch I wandered to Sea World (hai shang shi jie). No, there are no killer whales or dolphins. Sea World is Shenzhen’s expat hang-out, an outdoor mallish area of international restaurants and shops. The centerpiece of Sea World is an old French-built cruise ship (seized for narcotics smuggling) now cemented into the ground. The ship is now a luxury hotel and restaurant.

As I sauntered in the brutal midday sun I spotted a gathering crowd. This gentleman, a busker, had two large metal ammunition boxes with a shoe attached to the top of each. His promotional sign, all in Chinese, was unreadable by the Chinese illiterate Stevo. Chinese women in their Sunday best and their burly mates tried to lift the ammo boxes. With much grunting the men were able to lift them about an inch off the ground, for a second or two. Yes, they were heavy.

Mr. Busker was about to insert his feet into the shoes on each box, and I’m guessing, walk, demonstrating his strength, skill, and resolve. The crowd parted like the red sea. Camera ready, I waited. He strapped in one foot and was about to start on the other.

It never happened. The security guards who had been hovering nearby descended and stopped the show. The crowd dispersed and I left disappointed.

Such is life sometimes, in the Middle Kingdom, and around the world.